Digital bridge: Artificial Intelligence helps a Paralysed man to walk by connecting two regions of the central nervous system
A group of researchers used AI to establish digital bridge between brain and spinal cord of a paralysed man to restore movement. After 12 years of long paralysis, a man was able to walk with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
AI Boom
With on-going development and a quick response time by AI, a boom has been created in the world. Presently, we all are living in the AI World. Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft, Google and many other high tech brands have joined the race of developing their own AI models.
While, each passing day we come across, AI’s special task forces and innovations. Recently, with the help of AI, a group of researchers connected two regions of the central nervous system.
Monumental achievement
Scientists from Switzerland helped a paralyzed man gain control of his lower body with the help of AI. Gert-Jan Oskam, a man who was paralyzed from past 12 years regained the ability to walk for the first time. The 40-year-old gained control over his limbs by just using his thoughts. Further, it was possible due to two implants that revived the connection between his brain and spinal cord.
Indeed, this can be marked as a special monumental achievement in the history of health industry.
Furthermore, this achievement by AI has revolutionized the health industry.
The Breakthrough
The team of researchers from France and Switzerland found a novel way to develop a digital bridge between Oskam’s brain and spinal cord. This bridge bypassed all the injured sections and helped him in walking again.
Gregoire Courtine, a neuroscientist from the team, said that they were able to restore communication with a digital bridge which transforms thoughts into action. Additionally, this was done by implants in the region of the brain that usually controls the muscles of the legs. The implants capture the thoughts of the individual and transform them into electrical activations for the spinal cord to activate the muscles of the legs, the way people normally move to walk.
The Digital Bridge
“The participant reports that the brain–spine interface (BSI) enables natural control over the movements of his legs to stand, walk, climb stairs and even traverse complex terrains.
Moreover, neuro-rehabilitation supported by the BSI improved neurological recovery. The participant regained the ability to walk with crutches over ground even when the BSI was switched off. This digital bridge establishes a framework to restore natural control of movement after paralysis,” read the research paper published in Nature.
Correspondingly, the research will give a new face to the healthcare industry worldwide. However, scientists still believe that it may take several years for technology to be worldwide accessible.
